Prepayment gas-meter.



Patented June 25, l90l.

W. E. GIBBS.

PREPAYMENT GAS METER.

(Application filed May 7, 1900.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM E. GIBBS, OF FANWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HUMPHREYS & GLASGOW, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PREPAYMENT GAS-METER.

SPECIFICATIONibzmi-ag part of Letters Patent No. 677,125, dated June 25, 1901.

Application filed May '7, 1900. Serial No. 15,742. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. GIBBs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fanwood, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Prepayment Gas- Meters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in prepayment gas-meters.

The object of my invention is to supply a simple, cheap, and yet efficient prepayment attachment which may be readily applied to existing meters without materially changingthe mechanism thereof, which shall contain a valve controlling the flow of gas, said valve being manually opened after the deposition of a suitable coin in the device and automatically closed by the passage of a predetermined quantity of gas through the meter to which said prepayment device is attached.

My invention has also for its object the easy variation of the quantity of gas which shall pass through the meter for each coin deposited, so that the meter maybe set to deliver a volume of gas for each coin proportionate to the price of gas per thousand feet or other unit of measurement. Means are provided having for their objects the rejection of coins other than those which the device is intended to receive and the prevention of the delivery of gas until the receipt of the proper coin.

My prepayment attachment for gasmeters consists in general of a valve located in the path of the gas, means for manually opening said valve after a suitable coin has been deposited in the apparatus, and means whereby said valve is automatically closed by the meter after a predetermined quantity of gas has been delivered.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a partof this specification, Figure 1 is a top view of a meter to which my prepayment attachment is applied, the top plate of the meter proper being broken away to exhibit details of the operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same parts, the upper part only of the meter proper being shown. The remaining views are to a larger scale and show in detail the prepayment attachment, Fig. 3 being an elevation in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, with the money-box dropped; Fig. 4, a transverse section of the coin-receiver and easing on the line 1 1, Fig. 6; Fig. 5, a top sectional view thereof; Fig. 6, a vertical axial section of the entire attachment; Fig. 7, a transverse sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 2 2, Fig. 6, looking in the direction indicated by the right-hand arrow; Fig. 8, a similar view on the same line looking in the direction indicated by the left-hand arrow; Fig.

9, an elevation of one of the wheels of the train, hereinafter described; and Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the coin-receiver and casing, the plane of section being indicated by the line 3 3, Fig. 4:.

Within a valve-body l I arrange a valve 2, preferably a puppetvalve, in engagement with a spring 3, which tends to open the valve. A cylindrical plug 4 is screwed into the valve-body, forming a gas-tight joint at 5. The inner end of plug 4 is coveredby a flexible gas-tight diaphragm 6, which takes the place of a stuffing-box, and while it prevents the escape of gas through the axial hole which pierces the plug 4 it allows the valve-rod 7 to operate the valve 2. The motion of the valve away fromits seat is limited by diaphragm 6; but the valve-rod not being attached to the valve, but only operating it bypressure of the flexible diaphragm against it, is free to move not only with the valve away from its seat, but continuing its motion away from the valve after the latter has reached its limit of outward motion. The plug 4 is pierced by a central hole, in which a tube 9 freely revolves, and has secured to its face an internallygeared ring 10. The tube 9 is held in place 0 by retaining-nut 11, screwed upon its inner end and carries the train of wheels 12 13 14 15, spring 16, and a retaining-nut 17, screwed upon its outer end. The valve-rod 7 slides freely through tube 9, but is prevented from 5 turning therein by reason of a feather 18, carried by the tube 9, which enters a keyway 19.

Detachably mounted upon plug at by means of a bayonet-joint 20 is a cylindrical casing 21, whiclgcovers the train of wheels and is prolonged to contain the coin-receiver 22, which may be revolved in the casing 21, but

is held against longitudinal motion by nut 17 and the inwardly-turned flange 23 of the cas ing 21.

The coin-receiver is centrally pierced and threaded to engage with a screw formed upon a portion 24 of the valve-rod 7. The coin-receiver is prolonged to form an integral milled hand-wheel 25, by which it may be rotated. It has a slot 26, Figs. 4 and 10, cut entirely through its substance parallel with its diameter and sufficiently removed from the center to clear the central hole, in which the valverod 7 moves. The slot 26 is of such size at its upper endas will admit a coin of predetermined valuesay a quarter-dollar silver piece-to a depth at which the outer edge of the coin is tangent to the surface of the receiver, but is continued through the receiver of slightly less size, so that smaller coins will fall entirely, through and so be rejected.

Around the circumference of the coin-receiver is turned a groove 27, enlarged at the part 28 into a depressed chamber of about the same depth. their counterparts 29 30 upon the inner surface of the casing 21, so that in the normal position of the casing 21 and coin-receiver 22 the grooves 27 29 and chambers 28 3O coincide. A cross-shaped detent 3l,havinga spring 32 and attachment-piece 33, is inserted in the grooves 27 29, so that the arms of the cross occupy the chambers 28 30. The piece 33 is secured to the casing 21 by means of a screw 34. The upper end of the detent 31 reaches nearly to the coin-slot 35 in the casing 21 and is rounded or chamfered off on its under side, as shown at 36. An obstruction 37, attached to the casing 21, prevents the lifting of the detent by a wire or instrument inserted through the coin-slot.

In the operation of my device the coin-receiver22 is turned through one complete revolution for each coin inserted therein.

The valve-rod 7 has upon its outer end a series of grooves or scale-marks 38, separated a distance from each other equal to the pitch of the screw 24, whereby the distance the valve-rod has been Withdrawn from the valve, and consequently the number of coins worth of gas to be used before the valve closes, may be ascertained by sight or touch.

Attached to the gas-meter 39, upon which my device is mounted, as shown, and passing through a hole in the case thereof is a bar 40, to which a longitudinal reciprocating motion is given in a direction at right angles to the axis of the train of wheels 13 14, &c., by the ordinary rock-arms of the meter. \Vheel 15 is a ratchet-wheel, the teeth of which are successively engaged by the pawl 41 as the bar 40 reciprocates, and by this motion the wheel is slowly revolved. Spring 16 bears against said wheel 15 with slight friction and prevents any backward motion when it is not engaged with the pawl. \Vhee114 has a milled or toothed edge and is driven normally in unison with wheel 15 by means of a pawl 42,

The groove and chamber have carried by wheel 15 (see Fig. 8) and pressed into engagement with the edge of wheel 14 bya spring 43. Said pawl acts, therefore, as a clutch to fix wheels 14 and 15 together. It has, however, an extended tail 44, which during a portion of each revolution is depressed by passing a curved metal are 45, attached to the geared ring 10. The length of this arc determines the ratio of motion between wheels 14 and 15. If no are is inserted, the wheels revolve together. If the arc is a half-circle, the tail 44 of the pawl 42 is depressed during half a revolution of the wheel 15 and disengages wheel 14 during that time. So in proportion does it act for any other length of arc,

and as the quantity of gas delivered depends upon the ratio of movement of the wheels 14 and 15 the length of said are determines the price of gas. In practice Iprovide a number of arcs of various lengths, each are marked with a price proportional to its length. Wheel 14 carries an eccentric 46 integral with it, which drives the difierential gear 13 around the ring 10. Gear 13 has a pin 47, which enters a slot 48 in wheel 12 and turns it in unison with wheel 13. Wheel 12 is fixed to the tube 9, so that the latter, with its feather 18, is also .ro' tated, thereby turning the valve-rod 7. This by reason of the thread at 24 is gradually driven inward to close the valve 2.,

The casing 21 has cut in its side an opening 49, through which the coin may fall into the money-box 50 and through which the pawl 41 actuates the ratchet-wheel 15. The money-box 50 is attached by a hinge to the side of the meter at 51, and in its closed position it covers an opening 52, Fig. 4, in case 21, and the bar 40, with its pawl 41, is secured to case 21 by a padlock 53, having its link passing through the staple 54 on casing 21. By this device the casing 21 after being put on is locked against rotation. When, however, the money-box is unlocked and lowered, as shown in Fig. 3, the case 21 may be turned to unlock the bayonet-joint 20 and r then withdrawn axially to allow of changing the are 45, which determines the price at which the meter delivers gas. When the money-box is lowered, its edge or cross-bar 55 thereon near said edge no longer supports the bar 40, which drops to the bottom of the hole 56 in the meter-case and draws the pawl 41 below the circumference of the case 21, which may then be drawn out. Upon closing the money-box the pawl is thrown into engagement with the ratchet again through the bar 55 lifting bar 40.

- A chute 57, carried by the money -boX, catches coins which are small enough to pass entirely through the coin-slot 26 and carries them beyond the side of the meter, where they may be recovered. A stop M may be provided at the end of the coin-chute 57.

A peg or obstruction 58 enters the groove 27 of the coin-receiver and prevents the passage beyond it of a coin. If it were not for this, a coin might be wedged in the coin-slot ICC and be carried around and around, actuating the valve-opening mechanism a number of times.

It will be seen that in order to attach my prepayment device to the ordinary form of gas-meter it is necessary only to cut three holes through the side of the meter-case and to bore one small hole in one of the ordinary rock-arms, as at 59. The valve-casing 1 is then screwed upon the meter-inlet and the bar l0 inserted through the upper hole in the meterand fastened to the rock-arm by the pin.

When the meter is in place,the valve closed, and the money-box locked, the operation of my device is as follows: A coin is inserted in the coin-slot 35. If the coin is too large, it will not enter, and if it is too small it will fall entirely through the receiver 22 and be delivered at the end of the chute 57. If, however, it is of the proper size, it will be retained in the upper part of the coin-receiver, as shown in Figs. 4 and 10. The hand-wheel 25 is then turned to the left, when the edge of the coin engages the inclined end of detent 31 and lifts the cross out of the recess 28. The recess 28 is of such dimensions as to permit this movement of the receiver 22 to engage the coin with the detent. By continuing the revolution the coin drops into the money-box and the receiver is locked at the completion of a revolution by the cross of the detent again dropping into recess 28. If an attempt is made to wedge the coin in the slot, it will strike the peg 58, and the revolution cannot be completed until the coin is removed. When the receiver has made one turn, it will have drawn out the valve-rod the distance of one thread, for the valve-rod cannot turn, being held against rotation by the feather l8, and

one ring of the series 38 will show or may be felt on the part of the valve-rod which projects beyond the handle 25 of the coin-receiver. Several coins may be inserted in succession and as many rings will appear beyond 25. The valve 2 is now open and gas may be used. As it flows through the meter the bar 40 reciprocates and its pawl 41 operates the ratchet-wheel step by step, thereby slowly unscrewing the valve-rod 7 from the coin-receiver 22 and gradually closing the valve 2. If the rock-arm of the meter makes eight vibrations per cubic foot of gas delivered and the ratchet-wheel 15 has forty teeth, said ratchet will revolve once for one-eighth of forty, or five feet. Then if the differential gear reduces the motion of the ratchet-wheel twenty times before the valve-rod is reached the latter will revolve once for twenty times live or one hundred feet of gas passing through the meter, and if'the coin used is a quarterdollar one hundred feet will be delivered for that price, or at the rate of two and a half dollars per thousand cubic feet. Now if it is desired to sell gas at half that price an are 45 is affixed to the geared ring 10, so that it throws the pawl 42 out of engagement half the time, and double the amount of gas must pass the meter in order to close the valve. If gas at any price from zero to the maximum for which the meter is constructed is desired, an arc of the proper length may be selected to give the required ratio between the motion of the ratchet-wheel l5 and the Wheel 14:.

In order to exchange the arcs, the moneybox is lowered, thereby unlocking the case 21, which is then rotated toward the left and withdrawn from the bayonet-joint fastening until the arc-support 10 is exposed. The old one is removed and another put in its place and held, preferably, by the pin entering a hole in the arc.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a prepayment attachment for gas-meters, the combination of suitable coin-controlled valve-actuating mechanism adapted to be operatively connected with the meter mechanism, a movably-mounted money-box, and means controlled by the money-box for connecting and disconnecting the meter mechanism and prepayment mechanism, substantially as set forth.

2. In a prepayment attachment for gas-1neters, the combination of a step-by-step ratchetwheel, a pivoted and reciprocating pawl-bar adapted to be connected to the meter mechanism, and a money-box arranged to support said bar in operative position, substantially as set forth.

3. In a prepayment attachment for gas-meters, the combination of a valve, means for opening the valve, a longitudinally-movable valve-rod arranged to close the same and disconnected therefrom, coin-controlled means for withdrawing the rod from operative rela-' tion to said valve to allow the valve to open and meter-controlled mechanism for restoring the rod to such operative relation, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a prepayment attachment for gas-meters, the combination of a valve, a longitudinally-movable operating-rod therefor, and mechanism concentric with said rod for controlling the same, comprising a coin-receiver, connected to move the rod in one direction, and mechanism connected to the said rod and to the meter mechanism for moving the rod in the other direction, substantially as set forth.

5. In a prepayment attachment for gas'meters, the combination of a valve, means for opening the valve, a longitudinally-movable rotatable rod for closing the valve, coin-controlled mechanism for withdrawing said rod from the valve to allow the valve to open, and

mechanism con trolled by the meter mechanism for rotating said rod and causing it to move into engagement with and close said valve, substantially as set forth.

6. In a prepayment attachment for gas-meters, the combination of a valve, a longitudinally-movable operating-rod therefor, a rotatable normally-locked coin-receiver having &

operative connection with said rod and adapt ed to move the rod away from the valve for opening said valve, and a step-by-step mechanism and differential gear connected to the meter. mechanism and having operative connection with said rod to move the rod in the opposite direction and close said valve, substantially as set forth.

7. In a prepaymentattachment for gas-meters, the combination of a valve, an operating-rod therefor movable longitudinally toward and away from said valve for effecting the closing and opening of the valve, a rotatable coin-receiver having screw-threaded engagement with said operating-rod, a casing in which the coin-receiver is held against longitudinal movement,coin controlled mechanism for normally preventing the rotation of the coin-receiver, and suitable mechanism adapted to connect the meter mechanism with said operating-rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a prepayment attachment for gas-meters, the combination of a valve and its casing, coin-controlled mechanism for controlling said valve, a casing forsaid mechanism detachably secured to the valve-casing, and mechanism controlling the operative connection of said coin-controlled mechanism and valve and accessible by detaching said casing for the coin-controlled mechanism, substantially as set forth.

9. In a prepayment attachment for gas-me ters, the combination of a rotatable coin-receiver having a coin-slot and a circumferential groove, a casing having a projection entering said groove and adapted to be struck by a coin to prevent rotation of the coin-receiver, substantially as set forth.

10. In a prepayment attachment for gasmeters, the combination of a valve, an operating-rod therefor arranged axially thereof, and having a screw-thread, and the following elements arranged concentrically of said ro'd, a coin-receiver screw-threaded to engage the thread of said rod, a step-by-step ratchet- Wheel adapted to be operatively connected to the meter mechanism, and a diiferential gear having variable clutch connection with said ratchet-wheel and operative connection with said valve-operating rod, substantially as set forth.

WM. E. GIBBS.

Witnesses:

HARRY E. KNIGHT, J. GREEN. 

